Means for sterilizing cotton and other seeds



' 19 Aug 27 P. H. RYLANDER MEANS FOR STERILIZING COTTON AND OTHER SEEDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 1 1925 HHHIII' INVENTOR WITNESSES lander,

ATTORNEYS 3 7 P. H. RYLANDER MEANS FOR STERILIZING'COTTON AND OTHER SEEDS Filed April 15. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A INVENTOR lmfdc n ATI'ORNEYS Patented Aug.: 30,, 1927.

UNITED STATES t e? PATENT orr ca.

PARBISE HENDRICKS RYLANDER, OF AUSTIN, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR T WILLIAI P. RYLANDER, JAMES B. RYLANDER, AND PARRISH H. BYLANDEB, CONSTIT'UTHTG' THE FIRM OF THE RYLANDER COMPANY, 01? AUSTIN, TEXAS.

MEANS FQR STERILIZING- COTTON AND OTHER, SEEDS.

Application filed April 15, 1925. Serial No. 23,4:3'Z,

tion of treating the seeds, whereby the ex termination of insects, their larvae, and

germs which infest the seeds will be effected without injury to the seeds and the treated seeds will be rendered practically immune to such injury as otherwise would be caused by generated heat when the seeds are stored in bulk.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a sterilizing apparatus of the character described which can be adjusted to eflfect the uniform and thorough treatment of various quantities of seeds within a giventime.

Other objects and advantages ofthe invention will be apparent from the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved sterilizing apparatus,

Figure 2 is a section substantially along the line 22 of- Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section through the sterilizing ap aratus,

Figure 4.- is a horizonta section through the housin of the sterilizing apparatus, a rotary see carrier therein being shown in 40 plan,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a bearing block and a means for adjustably and detachably securing the bearing block to the housing of the sterilizer,

Figure 6 is a view showing in elevation the bearin block exhibited in Figure 5 together with a shaft which is removably supported by said block and a pulley and two separate gears which are mounte rotatably on the shaft, the pulley and the gears being shown in vertical section.

The improved sterilizer includes a case or housing which comprises two cooperative sections generally indicated at A and B respectively. The section A may be formed by casting or in any other suitable known manner to provide a body 1 which may be hollow as shown and which is formed to provide a cavity 2 in the inner side thereof, the side wall of the cavity 2 being semicircular in vertical section and extending vertically for somewhat less than the full height of the body 1. The cavity 2 also has a length somewhat less than that of the section 2 and is closed at its ends by late-like extensions 3 at the opposite en s of the body 1, the inner edges of the end extensions 3 being merged into outwardly extending lateral flanges 4 which lie in the same vertical plane. v

The section B likewise is formed by casting or in any other suitable known manner to provide. a body 5 having a cavity 6 in its inner side. The cavity 6 is of less'hei ht than the cavity 2 but the side wall thereo is curved concavely along the are of a circle struck by a radius of the same half-circle with which the concavely curved side wall of the cavity 2 coincides. The body 5 of the section B is formed with plate-like end extensions 7 which define the ends of the cavity 6 and extend beyond the latter as best seen in Figure 4, being merged at their inner side edges into outwardly extendin flanges 8 which lie in the same vertical Tane and which are adapted to be secure flatwise against the corresponding flanges 4 by means of bolts and nuts indicated at 9 or like fastening devices so that the sections A and B of the sterilizer case will be secured together in position to complement each other and the concavely curved side wall of the cavit 6 and the cavit 2 will be s aced from eac other and will ie in arcs o the same circle. With this arrangement, the cavity 6, the cavity 2 and'the'space between the cavities 2 and 6 within the housing form a sterilizing chamber which is in open communication at the upper side of the housing with the space at the outerside of the housing throu a passage or opening 10 which is locate entirely between the u per end portion of the end extensions 7 o the section B. This sterilizing chamber within the housing between the sections A and B also is in communication with the space below the housing through an openin or passage 11 which is completely dispose between the lower portion oli :he end QK EBHSlOl'lS 7 and. the body of the E FClSlOIl Ill. The openings 10 and 11 preferably eiilerge toward their outer ends as shown. 5 The housing i l B is supported in any euitohle liuown iueiiner, es by means of a stand iudicutecl at so that the opening 11 Wlll he unobstructed at its lower end.

The hotly l. of the section A is formed with u pl ity oli vertically spaced horizontal elongated chambers 13, the walls of Whieh only he int-2;; ail portions of the body 1. Each onoiinhor 1? extends for substantially the full length of the verity 2 and oouununiflutes ":h the letter through regularly wooed discharge orifices or ports l l. A duet l5 leiule :froui eorh ohomher 13 through the hurl ,l. to the outer side wall of the body lj i iruloly ooiuniuuieutes at its inner i ohuinher ill with which it is ruiedioto the leiigtl'i of the re iootivo duets 15 oil couree loo wi ling to the pool-- oluuuhers. l3 with mull oi the hotly l. 7 end north oil the ducts l5 ore il iulerr for engagement With (hes ill oi oi eteuui deoh they he connected l supply oil live the conduit may d :it ill end the oouduit .ll include :i stud ii etiouiu reg-:ulutor 9.0. l coiuluilt ll olso only he in its; open end with o vulved q o the steam dis i-ouipriso o eylindrii :eiocured h suitohle vl e 23 end the huh to rotote in the sterilizing; the so ious i l. zuid ll of the uhi'iut on emu which is equi-distont ill points on tho touoovely curved side Wl'tllF; oi the (rarities end The ehosl t on e .llltllri through aligned openings in the ends ol the housing i-t-dl, ouch oil such openings being formed through the meeting); edge portions; o'l? end extensions 6 o'l th J soot-ion illll, portions of odiooout flanges at 4% heiiur cut away for the re ception of heuringrs 2e which are secured by :fusteuiu r devices to the ends of the lions inu; end in which the end portions of the shell: illi l'tl'l} iournoled and supported.

The o rliud riro l hotly 2Q curries on its outer t i y o rirouuiilierentiully extending oi"- louoitudiuul troughs 28. Each trough t lll line straight rudiol side Wells (3.;- tendiugi; longitudinally of the cylindriool carrier and the side walls of each trough are oouneotod ut their ends by straight eided end walls 30. The walls of each trough may to U mower he integral with the cylindrical body 5352 or may be 'Eoru'iod separately and Secured to the cylindrical body 253 on the periphery of the latter. The length of each trough 28 is such that the outer faces oil the end walls of that trough will more in close proximity to the corresponding end walls of the sterilizing speee Within the housing when the shaft 25 is rotated, there not being, sullieiont specs between adjacent end walls of the trough and, housing, to permit small seeds to full between such adjacent walls. The outer edges of the end walls of the troughs 28 are couvexly curved to oonlorm to the curvature oi? the side Wells of the cavities 6 and 2 so that rototion of the shaft will cause the outer ends of the liroutghe to more sulliciently close to the uoncuvely' curred side walls of the cavities M'ltl (S to preclude the dropping of seeds between the rim edges of the trough and. the side Wells oi the ourities 2 and 6, it ol" course helm: uiuleretoml that the side "w lls fill) of ouch trough terminate at their outer edges; llush with the outer edges of the ru-rl. Wells ill) with which the ore associated,

ill. driven gem ll sorured on on end portion oi the sluiil ule ol" the housing of the steriliuor. iii-"i short shell; llil has it oleove 3:3 rolutuhly mounted. thereon; The middle portion of this sleeve carries it pulls} llel which is serured thereto While drive goers lllMl Phi res iectiuoly ore sooured on opposite end portions of the sleeve 3-5. The end portions ol" the shul't J32 eul'oud beyond the ends of the sleeve or; uud ore iulupted to he placed selectively iii on opening 3? in o l jlllil lflllllllfi; hlorlt 355i nod to he relousuhly secured ll ltllltih displacement lrom the open ir glf Eli lay moons oil u out sorow ill. The elm ilil is prol'ided with dlouiotricul opouiugre ill at opposite ends ol. the eloere llil mid u roleiuingr pin ll. is reu'uwuhly disposed in the openiugll) at the outer end. of the sleeve 33 when one end portion of the shaft xl hos liven secured in tho og'leniug ill" of the hlocl; o8, Whcrehy the sleeve 83 will he held against axial movement on the shell 32 ii the courtiou of the pin l-l. end the block 33%. The block 258 is adapted to be secured mljustehly and detuohuhly to the flanges -i-l ii iii one end of the houeizu, of the sterilizer so that the shaft 3:2 will be disposed parallel to the shaft 35 and one of the drive gears 35 or 36 will he in mesh with the driven gear ill. To this end, one love oi. the block 3-38 is substantially flat and is oriented to root against one of the flanges if-"8 on the udjurent end of the housing of the sterilizer; While angular lugs l2 on the hloclc 38 on the outer side of the latter eiuhruco the edge portions of the flanges -l--8 and are rlaunpod liriuly thereto by means oi" errows 43 which are threaded through the him-k I38 against the hinge with \rhivh hlock b8 is in contact. It is manifest ill) means? that the speed of rotation of the shaft 25 can be varied when the shaft 32 is driven at a constant speed by reversing the shaft 32 end for end in the opening 37oF the block 38 and by adjusting the position of the block 38 on the end of the housing of the sterilizer as required to cause the particular drive gear 35 or 36 that is on the inner end of the sleeve 33 to mesh with the driven gear 31 irrespective of the particular end portion of the shaft 32 that is secured in the opening 37 oi the block 38. From the foregoing description of the various parts of the de-' rice, the operation thereof may be readily understood. Heated or live steam passes from the main delivery conduit 17 through the branch 16 into the steam chambers 13. A torque may be transmitted to the pulley ill in any suitable known manner so that the shaft 25 will be rotated in a counterclockwisedirection and the troughs 28 will be moved past the opening 10 close to the concavely curved inner, side wall of the cavity 2. Cotton or other seeds which are to be treated are fed through the opening 10.into the troughs 28 of the rotating carrier and are carried in proximity to the discharge orifices 1st through which heated or live steam is discharged trom the chambers 13 into the troughs 28. Since the troughs 28 are comparatively shallow and of substantial width, the seeds will be spread out to comprise a relatively thin layer on the periphery of the rotating carrier and since the discharge orifices or ports 14 are spaced along the entire length of the carrier 22 and the respective chambers 13 also are spaced vertically or in other words from the lower end to the uppcr end of the concavely curved inner side wall of the cavity 2, all seeds within the troughs will be subjected to theaction of the heated or live steam and will be unil'orin-ly and thoroughly sterilized during the nissage of each trough in proximity to the concarely curved side wall of the cavity 2 from the opening 10 to the opening 11. The steam of course will be discharged at relatively high velocity in the form of jets into the troughs since the orifices 14 are relatively small in cross sectional area. Since the troughs 28 have straight radial side walls, each trough will enlarge slightly in width from its inner to its outer end, thus preventin; clogging of seeds in the outer end or each trough and securing thorough sterilization of all seeds that are within each trough during the passage of the trough in proximityto the concavely curved inner side wall of the cavity 2. The seeds will fall by gravity from each trough through the opening 11 into any suitable conveyor positioned beneath the opening 11 for receivin or conveying treated seeds to a desirah e place. It has been found in actual practice that the treating of cotton seeds with live steam in complete. extermination of pink boll worms and such other insects and germs as hibernate in or infest cotton seeds and moreover that the treated seeds will not be injured but will be rendered immune to damage which otherwise would be caused by generated heat after the seeds have been stored in bulk for any appreciable length of time. Obviously, seeds other than cotton seeds can be treated with live steam by means of the sterilizer with results equally satisfactory as those just mentioned in connection with the treatment of cotton seeds. It is likewise obvious that, with a simple modification of the partition walls of the carrier troughs, cotton seed, while still unginned, commonly called seed cotton, can be eiiectually treated in this machine, and the process'impart to the lint a toughness that is much desired for proper ginning. This before'ginning treatment will also result in the destruction of all boll weevils, or other enemy insects of cotton, which usually take shelter in the latest of the open bolls, while the cotton is still in the fields, and when not killed in the ginning process, find hibernating quarters in and around the gin plant, to become the propagators of the first generation of weevils to devour the new crop.

I claim 1. A sterilizer comprising a housing having a concavely curved inner wall provided with an inlet opening and with an outlet opening spaced from said'inlet opening, a

carrier rotatably supported within the housing, a series of seed receptacles on the periphery of said carrier, said receptacles being open only at the sides thereof next to said concavely curved wall of the housing and the edges of said receptacles being adapted to move sulliciently close to said concavely curved wall of said housing to prevent cotton or other seeds from passing from said rece taclesbetween the edges of the receptac es and said concavely curvedwall of the housing, and means opening through said concavely curved inner wall of the housing for discharging live steam directly into said seed receptacles on the carrier.

' 2. A sterilizer comprising a housing having a concavely curved inner wall andv hava. housing har ing" a concavcly curved inner Wall. and having an inlet opening tors-co ds at one end. or said coneavely curved Wall and an outlet opening; tor seeds at the opposite end oi said mineareljcurved inner wall, said hens inn; having spaced rows of spaced discharge f opening; radially through said con curred inner a ll through which live may be discharged into the space Within said concav'el y curved inner Wall, a cylindrical carrier mounted to rotate Within said housing about an axis located at equal dislrnce radially from all points-on said .ly' curred inner Walh a series ot ow troughs on said cylindrical carrier for carrying seeds in proiiiinit y to said eon- (rarely curved inner Wall and in the path .ol dischar oil steam from said discharge orilices each oi said troughs cmnprising a pair oi spaced redialv side wells and a air of end Walls, and a motion transmission mechanism for transmitting a torque from a source at power to said carrier.

i l. sterilizer connorising a.housiughacring; two spaced. concarel curved inner "Walls hoth lyin in arcs ol' a circle struck by the radius in a vertical plane, one ol' said cone rred. inner "Walls being; relatively and eatendiiig .hrongh a pro:ainiately indrical carrier supported in said Q in rotnt-e shout an axis concentric with the eloresaid circle. said housing harin tor seeds hetween two W curved inner cos relee?" walls of the housing" and having; an outlet opening for seeds between the ot ier two adjacent ends of said eoncavely curved inner walls, said housing having spaced rows of spaced discharge orifices opening through said relatively large concavely curved inner all of the housing through which live steam may be discharged toward said carrier, and a circumferential series oi shallow troughs on the periphery of said carrier, said trou hs being open only attheir outer sides and iug movable with the carrier in proximity to said concavely curred inner Walls of the housing and in the path of steam jets from said discharge orifices the space Within each of said troughs being unobstructed and the edges ot the walls of the trough moving close to the inner Walls of said housing.

5. A machine "tor sterilizing eotton and other seeds comprising a housing, a seed carrier mounted to rotate in the housing, said seed carrier and said housing cooperating; to eontiue a shalli'nv mass of seeds be tween the periphery ol: the carrier and the adjacent wall of the housing, and means carried by said lune-nag lor discharging live steam directly into said mass of seeds.

o. A. machine for sterilizing cotton and other seeds comprising av housing, a seed carrier mounted to rotate in the housing,

said seed carrier and said housing cooperating to confine av shallow mass of seeds he-, tween the periphery of the carrier and the adjacent Wall of the housing means carried by said housing" for discharging live steam directly into said mass of seeds, said housing having an inlet tor seeds and an outlet for seeds, said inlet and said outlet both being located radially outward from the periphery of said seed carrien said seed carrier haw h1g3: means for enough with said mass of seeds to cause said do to move with the carrier from said inlet to said outlet.

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